Turnkey Engines

[WPBBUS]

Hello...newly 1972 Bay Window Bus. Super Excited and doing a lot of work on it already. I have an Engine and Transmission but would like to get them rebuilt or swap out for turnkey engine. Any recommendation on the source? OI see a number of sites offering the service...GEX, etc...any feedback on good sources? Thanks

[danfromsyr]

if you buy a GEX engine the locals will steal it in the middle of the night and sink it in a gator infested swamp to put both it and you out of your misery.

*stay away from GEX.. it's bad, really bad

look into Headflow masters in California, https://www.headflowmasters.com/
or Mofoco in Wisconsin https://www.mofoco.com/

[Wildthings]

[crownline]

Unless you have a boat that needs an anchor x2 on gex. Mofoco is my choice. They have turnkey as well as longblocks.
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1972 Bus 1700 cc Single Carb. But not a progressive.
Barelymuvin
Wish I still had the ones I got rid of.

"It"s got some dings and dents and neither of us is going to SEMA."(Update, I went to SEMA in 2019 but the Bus stayed home)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-8446.png]Click to view image[/URL]

[jlrftype7]

[WPBBUS]

Ok...the Jury is in...I really appreciate the feedback. To answer i have an engine that run (supposedly) I was just looking to make sure that I install something that is reliable....perhaps I have to rethink the approach.

[KentABQ]

Since Colin also lives in Florida, and travels the country helping people with their VWs, I'd hold out for an appointment with him.
He will know what your engine needs, and will make recommendations to keep it running well.

Check out Colin's website and 2020 itinerary...
https://itinerant-air-cooled.com/viewforum.php?f=59

Good luck with your new van/bus!
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"

"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea

Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM

[SGKent]

[SamboSamba22]

Whao, this is an insightful thread on Turnkey Engines...

There's a ton of shops in California. A handful of listed builders here on the Samba, just go to the classifieds and search "turnkey".

A real deal engine costs money. Like $7k and up. Don't be enticed by these "rebuilt" engines for $2600.

Especially GEX. They're absolute shit. You should see the pig of an engine I'm tearing apart for a guy now from GEX who's becoming one of my of my closest customers.

I've torn 4 GEX engines down this year. Sadly for my customer's pocketbooks, the strain on my eyes and knowledge, I'd rather have a good ole boy throwing back Busch Lights to build an engine than the thieves in Booneville, AR.


Don't cheap out on an engine. Do your research, and come up with your budget.

Then, surpass your budget by $2k. Nothing sucks the joy out of bus ownership more than messing with a sick, tired, hodgepodge engine.


Sam
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The Bus Barn Ltd. Co.

Oct. ’67 Double Cab (’68 Crew Cab)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-44412.png]Click to view image[/URL]
March '69 Delivery (Panel Bus)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-44414.png]Click to view image[/URL]

[RalphWiggam]

EMW is probably the only place I would trust to build me an engine these days. I dont even know if they have turnkey options though.

FAT performance maybe, but I thought I read some stuff awhile back that they had gone downhill.

There is also ACE performance engines. They are good.

Either way, you will probably be looking at $7-8K+ for a turnkey type 4 that isnt a complete POS.

Kinda makes you wonder about picking up a subaru engine for 2-3K doesnt it?

[airkooledchris]